Essay on renaissance artist

Michelangelo Buonarroti was born in Florence. As a boy he had great artistic talent and was an apprentice to an artist called Ghilrlandaio. He also admired the works of Donatello, a great sculptor.

When he finished his apprenticeship he went to work for the Medici family in Florence. Lorenzo the Magnificent saw Michelangelo's talent and became his patron.

When Lorenzo died Michelangelo moved to Rome. He sculpted The Pieta, a marble statue of Christ in his mother's arms. It can still be seen in St. Peter's today.

He later returned to Florence where he sculpted the world famous statue of David.

Back in Rome Michelangelo was hired by Pope Julius the second to paint scences from the old testament on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. It took him four years to complete this and he had to paint while lying on his back. It is called a fresco because it was painted in fresh plaster. He also
painted a fresco behind the late called The Last Judgment.

Before he died Michelangelo designed the dome of St Peter's Basilica. He was a gifted architect as
well as a painter and sculptor. He died at the age of 89.